Is Roberts Ranch off the table?

The Roberts family was under the impression Catherine Roberts changed her mind on giving the 16,500-acre ranch to Larimer County

By Pamela Dickman Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
01/24/2013 09:36:16 PM MST

The 16,500-acre Roberts Ranch near Livermore contains the Campbell Valley, shown here. Last month, the ranch's 92-year-old owner offered her property to Larimer County as a gift, but her stepson says she has withdrawn the donation.
(Charlie Johnson)

Editor's note: This is an update to an earlier Reporter-Herald story.

FORT COLLINS -- The Open Lands Advisory Board voted 8-2 to recommend that Larimer County accept the donation of the 16,500-acre Roberts Ranch -- a gift that is now in question and that members of the ranching family have vowed to fight in court.

Catherine Roberts, the second wife of J. Evan Roberts, offered the ranch to Larimer County in December with the stipulation it remains as a working cattle ranch. Conservation easements already preserve the land from any future development.

The son and grandsons of her late husband have said she is giving away their family's 138-year heritage out from under them and against what J. Evan Roberts would have wanted. But Thursday night, just before a meeting of the advisory board, D.L. Roberts said his stepmother had changed her mind and rescinded the gift.

County officials, however, said the gift has never been a certainty and discussions with Catherine Roberts continue.

"She's keeping her options open," explained Gary Buffington, director of the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources. "It's kind of a time-out thing for her."

John Reid, Catherine Roberts' attorney, informed the county on Tuesday that she no longer wanted to discuss the donation with Larimer County, but then Roberts, after asking open lands staff many questions, agreed to let the county continue with the public process.

That does not mean the gift is a done deal.

"It never has been," said Buffington.

If she does offer the land, the Larimer County commissioners would have to decide whether to accept it along with the stipulation it remains a working ranch. The county also would decide whether to lease the land for ranching operations or get into the business itself.

The question of whether that is a good fit and fiscally possible as well as discussion on the potential clean-up of as many as 500,000 discarded tires was tasked to the Open Lands Advisory Board.

They considered the estimated start-up costs of $400,000, the potential of grants to help clean up the tires, whether the land was suitable for public access, protection of cultural resources as well as volumes of comment from residents. Most of the comments, sent in written form or spoken at two public meetings, were in favor of D.L. Roberts and his sons, saying that the county should not take their land.

However, advisory board members pointed out that even if the county does not accept the gift, Catherine Roberts does not have to give it to her late husband's heirs. She could sell it or give it to another conservation agency, they noted.

D.L. Roberts is hopeful she will turn it into a trust to protect the land and to allow him and his sons to care for and work the ranch. He believes her second thoughts about the donation are the first step toward a common goal: protecting the land and family heritage.

"This was the first hurdle, but we have more steps to take," Roberts said before the meeting. "There's a lot of history there. We're happy to work with the county to preserve it. We want the same thing."

An hour later at the public meeting, however, his words sharpened as he and his sons threatened to sue the county if they take over the land.

Ultimately, it was not the family's predicament that the advisory board took into consideration. Several members said they feel for D.L., Burke and Ben Roberts but their decision was based on what is best for the land and the citizens of Larimer County. They decided, 8-4, to recommend to the county commissioners that they accept the gift if it is offered.

Those against the acceptance worried about unknown costs and consequences of undertaking a ranch and mentioned that county money would be better spent on land that would be more open for public recreation.

The Larimer County commissioners, who will make the final decision if Catherine Roberts officially offers the land, will have a public hearing Monday, Feb. 4.